This Week In Planning – “More Hotels Coming”

Matthew Bai

This Week In Planning (TWIP) is a weekly segment where we analyze notable events to have taken place in New Zealand’s “Planning Sphere” over the preceding week.

In this installment, we cover topics ranging from the Government’s announcements in relation to Kiwibuild, to private sector announcements for major new projects in Auckland’s CBD, as well as updates to the Augustine Lau Situation.

Earlier this week the Government announced their intention for HLC and HNZ to redevelop a 170 hectare suburban block in Mangere. This development will yield up to ten thousand new dwellings (gross) over a period of 10-15 years, while following the established “Mixed” model of including Social, Kiwibuild (affordable), and Market housing. According to Housing Minister Phil Twyford, the government intends to deliver 3,000 state houses, 3,500 Kiwibuild homes, and 3,500 market homes. Subtracting the existing houses to be demolished (2,700), implies a net addition of approximately 7,300 homes over the project timeframe.

This announcement represents the second major project to be launched under the Government’s Kiwibuild program, following the purchase of Unitech’s Mt Albert Campus site, projected to accommodate 3,000 new dwellings. This is against the 35,496 registrations received as of July 17. Of these 22,891 were made in the Auckland region.

The current density of the 170 hectare block is approximately one dwelling per 630 sqm of land. Following redevelopment, the density will increase to approximately one dwelling per 230 sqm of land, suggesting higher density typologies such as terrace houses and apartment buildings will be required to meet the desired yield. This is supported by AUP zoning, under which much of the site is zoned as MHU, allowing a maximum building height of 11 meters, and maximum size coverage of 45%.

This week has also seen the announcement of three major developments by the private sector for Auckland’s CBD. These include proposals for 51 Albert Street, the Yates Building site, and a new hotel on Wellesley Street.

While the NZ Herald states 51 Albert Street will be developed into a 41 level hotel, this is refuted by statements made by Waitematā Local Board Member and RMA Commissioner Vernon Tava, who claims the resource consent has been amended, reducing the height of the proposed structure to 34 Levels.

The proposed building is set to house an IHG Indigo hotel, which would make it the second proposed hotel on Albert Street following last year’s announcement by ProInvest Group for a 37 level EVEN hotel on the former NZ Herald Site.

It also adds to a larger pipeline of proposed hotels in Auckland’s CBD, including the recently announced Britomart Hotel by Cooper & Co, the Pacifica Hotel (currently under construction), and a yet unannounced hotel on Beach Road adjacent to the Antipodean Apartments. Together, these projects will serve to meet New Zealand’s projected 26 Hotel shortfall, and build capacity ahead of the 2021 America’s Cup.

This week also saw the announcement of a new 10 level Sudima Hotel on the corner of Wellesley and Nelson St in Auckland’s CBD. The hotel is set to contain up to 194 rooms upon completion in 2020. Details for this application can be found under LUC60319358.

The final major announcement relates to the Yates Building and surrounding structures on Albert/Wolfe Street. Developer Peter Wall says “There will be mixed-use with retail at the ground levels on Albert, Federal and Wolfe St. It could be a hotel and apartments but we’re only at the concept planning stage,”

The details provided are insufficient to determine the extent of proposed development, and it is unknown if this project has approved Resource Consent. We will continue to update this story upon the release of further information.

In RMA news, developer Augustine Lau has been sentenced to a further 2 years imprisonment for repeated violations of the RMA, including the construction of illegal dwellings and the contamination of local streams with raw sewage. According to Linda Cooper, chair of the council’s regulatory committee “this strong decision of the court shows that Aucklanders don’t have to put up with illegal antics from dubious developers. It sends a clear message that these actions, which affect things like water quality and public health, are not acceptable and will not be tolerated”.